PELE is charging how much for a autograph?

[Texans]

Isnt Pele considered the best soccer player ever? If that is the case I think the prices are fair. Has he done many public or even private signing?

As for the photo op I think its a great idea. I hate it when you have to rush to take a quick picture because you dont want to hold up the line. I prefer taking pictures with the player then the autograph. With so many auto on ebay its probably cheaper to buy the auto item off ebay.

[cliffjmp33]

I have a question more towards Pele/soccer experts. How many Pele game used items are truly out there? Also, besides the actual price discrepancy, what is stopping a swindler/cheat/con-artist from paying the larger fee and having Pele add his signature to a bogus item only later to be sold as an authentic gamer? Does Pele know specifically if an item is a true gamer?

I have no knowledge of soccer memorabilia, but just curious to know more.

[trsent]

I agree. Those prices for Pele to sign gamers are ludicrous. I think it is just flat out greed. As for Willie Mays' prices, I can understand why he charges so much; players back then never made the insane amounts of money they do now, and Willie is a legend. The photo ops thing is a good option for people who don't want autographs, but gee whizz that's a lot for just a quick pic.
There is only ONE person I would pay several hundred for a sig...and that's JORDAN.

So you theory is that you don't think Pele is in the same category as Willie Mays or Michael Jordan.

I personally think that's not for you or I to decide. If the public shows up and pays his prices then his is priced accordingly. If they don't show up then it's overpriced. I assume in the outside American sports fan market Pele is near top of the list in the same class as Michael Jordan and Willie Mays.

Finally, how you played back in the day or how much money you made in the 1950's doesn't dictate how much you charge for your autographs and photo-ops today - What dictates it is how infrequently someone appears at an autograph show or convention along with the public demand for your autograph.

[bdeol44]

I have a question more towards Pele/soccer experts. How many Pele game used items are truly out there? Also, besides the actual price discrepancy, what is stopping a swindler/cheat/con-artist from paying the larger fee and having Pele add his signature to a bogus item only later to be sold as an authentic gamer? Does Pele know specifically if an item is a true gamer?

I have no knowledge of soccer memorabilia, but just curious to know more.

Great point.

[stasman]

very good discussion on this one.....great to hear your opinions and views...Thanks

[otismalibu]

what is stopping a swindler/cheat/con-artist from paying the larger fee and having Pele add his signature to a bogus item only later to be sold as an authentic gamer?

Nothing is stopping him and it's mostly likely been done countless times before.

The piece has to stand in its own. Doesn't matter if it was purchased on CL or from the world's greatest auction house (I think they all make that claim), paperwork or no paperwork, signed or unsigned...

[KGoldin]

Willie Mays charges a ton to signed autographs at public appearances, but price doesn't reflect what one did on the baseball field.

Until late in life, Bob Feller, a top five pitcher all time, would sign public autographs for about $20 each. His autographs do not have much value these days because he signed autographs at public sessions every opportunity he got.

What does Jeter make from The Yankees? 17M a year? Plus endorsements? He doesn't care or want to sign autographs for Steiner, so they pay him silly money to do it. It is not a comparisons of players it is what it costs to get a player to sign autographs.

I remember having a $2500 contract with bob feller to sign 1000 autographs in 1990

[otismalibu]

I remember having a $2500 contract with bob feller to sign 1000 autographs in 1990

On more than one occasion, I've seen message board posts saying that unsigned Feller cards are rarer than signed ones.